• Bolton 0-4 Chelsea, Premier League

Chelsea crush sorry Bolton

ESPN staff
January 24, 2011
Didier Drogba struck form at The Reebok © Getty Images
Enlarge

For the first place to see every goal from every Premier League match, check out ESPNGOALS.com on your mobile (UK only)

Gallery

Chelsea kept their slim title hopes alive with a 4-0 victory at Bolton, their first win on the road since October.

Carlo Ancelotti's men have seen Manchester United gallop away at the top of the Premier League on account of their poor run, but goals from Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, Nicolas Anelka and Ramires got the juggernaut back on the rails.

Drogba has struggled for fitness and form since discovering he had been struck down with malaria, but he looked much more like his powerful self with a dominant display and he opened the scoring with a cracker on 11 minutes. The big Ivorian picked the ball up 40 yards from goal, advanced and lashed a stunning, swerving, dipping shot that left Jussi Jaaskelainen grasping at thin air.

Bolton offered little as an attacking threat, although Matt Taylor did force Petr Cech into a stunning diving save.

Chelsea doubled their lead before the interval when Malouda was rewarded for persistence, as he picked up a loose ball and after seeing his initial cross blocked he beat Jaaskelainen at the near post with a low shot.

On a night when the Reebok paid tribute to the late Nat Lofthouse, Bolton did not produce the performance many expected and they were contributors to their own downfall as an awful pass from Kevin Davies allowed Chelsea to spring forward and Anelka was on hand to stroke home the third on 56 minutes.

Ramires has come in for criticism during Chelsea's dip in form but the Brazilian midfielder eased some of the pressure on his shoulders when opening his account with a crisp finish from the edge of the box as Bolton were comprehensively outplayed.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices